French President Emmanuel Macron praised Morocco’s education system as an “extraordinary model” for Africa, highlighting what he described as “an incredible revolution” spurred by the leadership of King Mohammed VI.
Speaking at the closing of the Africa Forward “Inspire & Connect” business forum in Nairobi, held ahead of the Africa Forward summit, Macron said Morocco had achieved significant progress across primary, secondary and higher education.
“What Morocco has done under the leadership of the King is an incredible revolution,” Macron said, pointing in particular to the country’s performance in elite higher education, including strong representation among students at France’s prestigious École Polytechnique.
He said Morocco’s experience demonstrated a scalable model for the continent, especially in linking education outcomes to high-level academic achievement and global integration.
Macron also announced €23 billion ($25 billion) in investments targeting Africa, saying the funding package would support economic growth and job creation across both continents.
The French president argued that Africa’s development needs are best addressed through investment rather than traditional public aid, stressing that “Africa needs investment.”
The Africa Forward forum brought together more than 1,500 business leaders, investors and policymakers from Africa, France and other regions to discuss key issues such as economic transformation, investment opportunities and growth strategies across the continent.
